Daily Digest for Monday, 2/27

* The Senate will take up a bill that would allow unregulated surplus-lines insurers to take their policies out of Citizens Property Insurance. The proposal, which has already passed the House, is controversial because out-of-state insurers could raise their rates to any amount after taking over the Citizens’ policy. Sen. Mike Fasano, a vocal critic of Citizens, is planning to speak out against what he is calling the "vulture" bill.

* The Senate will also consider a proposal in session today to let the state sell the naming rights to greenways and trails.

* Over on the House side, lawmakers in the Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee are expected to hear a hotly debated bill on medical malpractice. House Bill 385 would allow the defendants in a medical malpractice action to interview a claimant's health care providers without the claimant being present. Opponents say the bill is anti-consumer -- and several victims of medical malpractice plan to testify against it.

* The House Education Committee will take up a controversial proposal on charter schools. In the bill's last committee stop, Rep. Janet Adkins, R-Fernandina Beach, tried to tack on an amendment that would require public school districts to share their construction and maintenance funds with independently run charter schools. The amendment failed in a dramatic 7-7 vote -- leading concerned school districts to breath a sigh of relief. But many observers expect the language, which remains in the Senate version of the bill, to resurface in the House.

* Additionally, the Florida Association of Children’s Hospitals and other groups will hold a press conference at 11 a.m. outside of the House Chambers to address budget proposals that would cut funding for children’s hospitals and pediatric programs.